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Friday, July 30, 2010
A week of "El Santo" films at La Raza Galeria Posada
by Jonathan Mendick, published on October 26, 2009 at 12:12AM
Storyline: Upcoming Events
Rodolfo Huerta, lucha libre wrestler and one of Mexico's most beloved film icons, is known as El Santo, or "The Saint." What's surprising though, is that the masked wrestler-cum-actor lived up to his exalted moniker on and off the screen.
El Santo "saved" the Mexican film industry as it was on its deathbed, creating films that drew patrons back to the big screens, said Fred Dobb, film curator at La Raza Galeria Posada. When El Santo died in 1984 at the age of 66, thousands watched as the famous actor/wrestler was buried in his signature silver mask.
For one week, starting Monday, La Raza Galeria Posada will show an El Santo film every night. The free series is sponsored by the Consulate General of Mexico.
El Santo was a poor child and sacrificed to get into wrestling, Dobb said. After his career took off, he was turned into a comic book hero, then became a film superstar.
Dobb described the familiar plot of El Santo's 50-plus films: The good guy, El Santo would fight a number of enemies, which included monsters, vampires, werewolves, martians, evil geniuses and Nazis.
"These films are unique in that they combine genres (such as) sci-fi, horror, action, adventure and wrestling," Dobb added. "His first film was in the early '50s, during the end of the Golden Age of Mexican cinema."
"Lucha libre is next to soccer and before bullfighting (in significance) in the cultural psyche of Mexico," said Michael Collett, the gallery's education manager and photographer. "It has elements of prime-time soap operas and WWF."
Although entry, popcorn, beer and wine are free, donations are welcome. Films begin at 7 p.m. at La Raza Galeria Posada, 1022 22nd St. On Thursday, Dobb will speak about El Santo's life and legacy.
The films are:
Monday: Anónimo Mortal (Anonymous Mortal), not subtitled
Tuesday: Santo y Blue Demon en la Atlántida (Santo and Blue Demon in Atlantis), subtitled
Wednesday: Santo vs. Las Lobas (Good vs. The Wolf), subtitled
Thursday: Santo en el Museo de Cera (Ghost in the Wax Museum), subtitled
Friday: Santo y Blue Demon vs. Los Monstruos (Santo and Blue Demon vs. The Monsters), not subtitled
If that's not enough lucha libre films, on Halloween the gallery will show Revolucha, a 2007 documentary about a lucha libre match in Detroit. It stars El Hijo del Santo, the only one of El Santo's 11 children who became a professional wrestler. Costumes are suggested.
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"Chicano is our identity; it defines who we are as people. It rejects the notion that we...should assimilate into the Anglo-American melting pot...Aztlan was the legendary homeland of the Aztecas ... It became synonymous with the vast territories of the Southwest, brutally stolen from a Mexican people marginalized and betrayed by the hostile custodians of the Manifest Destiny."
Apparently racism has become mainstream and acceptable...Doh...only if your non-white? Screaming WHITE POWER is unacceptable, but Screaming BROWN POWER is perfectly fine?
Don't bother, it was an old and stale rhetorical question, I know the answer...of course Caucasians cannot cannot scream White Power... we are the historical oppressors and land thieves.
La Raza, has done nothing with Mexico for 400 years, and now they want to come and take advantage of what the racist Caucasians have built in America. yeah yeah...don't bother...I know the response... on the backs of the oppressed La Raza...whatever... Even if that were true, it doesn't explain the state of Mexico and other Hispanic countries, they are third world countries.
Can I post articles about the events which support the efforts of the KKK, what about anti Jewish events?
I am tired of race baiting, multiculturalism is what is destroying our society. Being an American is supposed to mean equality regardless of race. Unfortunately, in practice, this is a mere myth, and something that race baiter's will never accept.
Mr. Knapp, I'd love further clarification of this issue. I'm not sure I know what organization about which you are writing. The venue above is called "La Raza Galeria Posada" and not simply "La Raza". A quick look at the gallery's website reveals the following mission statement:
"Since 1972, La Raza Galería Posada’s mission has been to advance, celebrate, and preserve the art and culture of Chicano, Latino, and Native populations for present and future generations. Today, we serve the community through education programs, a year-round exhibition series, literary events, musical presentations, performances and community cultural activities."
(http://www.larazagaleriaposada.org/about-lrgp/)
If we find out that the above gallery is a racist organization then I will be the first to consider not reporting on any of their events. But I would also advise the gallery's backers who are large well respected non-profit groups to consider doing the same.
Please write me, or a follow-up comment with a URL where I can find the above mission statement or more about how "La Raza" is a racist organization. A quick Google search did not come up with anything.
Thank you and thanks as always for providing an interesting perspective.
The KKK was formed, not to celebrate the cultural role of a specific group, but to oppress and subjugate other groups, and promote an artificial and socially malleable racial standard called "whiteness."
About the "La Raza" statement, there are some incongruities; the Aztecs did call their land "Aztlan," but Aztec domains never extended as far north as the American southwest and Alta California. But it is undeniable that this land was once part of Mexico, and home to native tribes who interacted with Spanish settlers, conquistadors and missionaries, in ways ranging from trade to genocide. The end result was a mixture of imported Spanish/European tradition, culture, religion and language, blended with native American tribal customs and the imperial and architectural legacy of the pre-Columbian empire builders like the Aztecs. Especially in the wake of their civil war, Mexico strove to create a national identity for a diverse population, just as America did, integrating both European Spain and native Aztec culture, and their fusion after four centuries of indigenous cultural growth.
I would definitely take issue with the idea that Mexico "did nothing" with its territories for 400 years; the republic of Mexico became independent of Spain in 1821. During the previous three centuries, the Spanish set up a series of colonies, trade stations, missions and outposts that were equal to any other empire in the world during that era. Disease and genocide destroyed most of the native population, as elsewhere in North and South America. They were sparsely populated by Europeans, but so were other European colonies--today, Mexico is more densely populated than the United States, and is home to one of the largest cities in the world, Mexico City (on the site of the former Aztec capital, Tenochtitlan.)
The fledgling Republic of Mexico tried to encourage settlement off the coast, in order to create trade networks and secure control over the native tribes of the West and Southwest. They even encouraged European and American migrants, although illegal immigration by Americans became a problem that resulted in turmoil and violence later.
One such legal migrant, the Swiss-born John Sutter, became a naturalized Mexican citizen before receiving a land grant to build a fort near the point where the American River met the Sacramento River. This fort became an inland regional center of the Mexican government's military authority, until it was taken by American military forces, followed by the rest of the state of California and much of the Southwest. So, in many ways, it was the actions and policy of the Mexican government that led to the establishment of the city of Sacramento!
Hi William, thank you for your more factual and accurate posts. I hope to see you at one of more of our film series this week. Everyone could use a good super hero one in a while, especially
Jim Kapp.
While you are there, Jim, please take a few minutes to look at the very moving tributes to family members who have passed on. This is a long standing tradition of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). There are a number of nichos (donated cigar box decorated to honor loved ones) plus a beautiful marigold-festooned alter for the Bermudez family in the front window.
I was honored to be asked to make a nicho. I am white, born in Indiana, raised Presbyterian and sinc the beginning of this year, have worked with the fine folks at La Raza as both a publicist and producing music and cutural events. This has enriched my life.
La Raza Galeria Posada was just awarded the 2009 Arts Management Excellence Award from The Arts & Business Council of Sacramento. and just last week we announced that the California Arts Council awarded La Raza Galeria Posada an arts grant for a music festival in 2010. La Raza was the only recipient from Sacramento County.
La Raza, as a term alone is offensive.
La Raza is a racist movement, which promotes the reconquest of the Southern United States.
"La Raza" (The Race) is a broad term which refers to those whose ancestry is indigenous to the area of Mexico (or "Aztlan"). Many members of groups like MEChA refer to themselves as "La Raza" or "Raza," but the term itself is used to indicate camaraderie among those in different organizations with the same objectives. There are a number of organizations who consider themselves to be La Raza.
The most visible of these groups are MEChA, The Brown Berets de Aztlan, OLA (Organization for the Liberation of Aztlan), La Raza Unida Party, and the "Nation of Aztlan" to name a few. Although the activism of these organizations vary from somewhat radical to extremely radical, they share the same objectives, the "liberation of Aztlan." Each follows the Raza manifesto "El Plan de Aztlan (sometimes called "El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan"). The Nation of Aztlan, tied to La Voz de Aztlan disseminates the exact same propaganda that MEChA spreads including antisemitic propaganda. Believers in the Aztlan legend insist upon the indivisibility of "La Raza" and their common goals, one of them being the need to abolish the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
La Raza Galeria Posada (LRGP)is a member of "Spirit of Aztlan" Consortium. A consortium which promotes Illegal immigration and "the reconquesta of Aztlan." They state on their website:
"We don't fear Al Qaeda but fear more AL Cracker". THEIR WORDS. NOT MINE. The last time I checked, CRACKER was a racist term, and is no different in meaning than any other ethnic slur. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_slur
LRGP partners with organizations like Viva Palestina a group which does not recognize the right for Israel to exists.
LRGP is Allied with the Democratic Socialist of America. www.dsausa.org
So I believe it is safe to say that LRGP are racist socialists who support Al Qaeda over the United States...who they claim stole their lands.
SO..EVERYONE stole it...if anything the only people to have a right to claim the land under the Mexican theory of having conquered the area first...are the Indigenous People of the South West...
Spain stole the land... Spain, was thrown out in the Mexican war for independence...but Mexico still claimed the lands that Spain had stolen by brute force.
OK so lets get this straight... Mexico is upset that we claimed land that they took by force from Spain who took it by force (manifest destiny) from the indigenous peoples of the America's? Yet they are somehow morally superior because? The Spaniards enslaved, murdered and raped the indigenous people and interbred with the Indians...so this fact somehow makes their claim to Aztlan more valid? Give me a break...
This whole issue boils down to the Mexican population explosion, poverty, extreme corruption in their government, and their unwillingness to fight to do anything about it. After all, why should they fight and die like Americans did to build our nation, when they can get it handed to them for free?
They use the illegitimate La Raza claim to Aztlan, to rationalize their illegal mass influx into America in order take advantage of our social services. In fact, this is one of the main agenda's of the "The Spirit of Aztlan" Consortium, and their allied organizations... to ensure that "La Raza" has access to American social services..whether they are here illegally of not. The cherry on top is that the entire movement is based on The Race..that because of their race alone, they deserve something from the United States.
This is mass cognitive dissonance by a group of people who want to rationalize their illegal invasion of the United States. I would say that their cognitive dissonance is because, 97% of them are God fearing Christians, they have to rationalize their theft of social services, breaking our laws and illegal entry into the United States, otherwise they would be violating one of the Ten Commandments. Thou Shalt not Steal... So they simply rationalize their actions, based on being members of "La Raza" in order to feel justified and more comfortable about the illegal invasion of the United States.
See Links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nation_of_Aztl%C3%A1n
BTW Don't believe my position? Read their own words:
White people are leaving Alta California
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
From La Voz de Aztlan.
The following article by Cuauhtli Teszcatlipoca
United Mexicas of Aztlan
"The prophecies of our ancient elders will be fulfilled."
- Ehecatl -
Our beautiful fruit groves, sunshine and warm beaches will again be ours to enjoy. White people are now leaving the state in droves. Presently there is an exodus of gringos going eastward to the cold blizzards from which they came.
According to census figures, during the year ending on July 1, 2008 more White people left California than came in. At the same time lots of Mexicans came into the state to retake this blessed territory as our home. We are definitely winning the demographic war through love of family. . . without firing one shot.
White people have become physically soft and can not compete with hard working Mexicans who are accustomed to sweat inducing labor. Unable to earn wages in phoney "paper pushing jobs", they are now forced to leave the "Golden State." Only the hardiest will survive here in the present economic conditions created by the "Jewish banksters." Soon we will also
liberate ourselves from this evil bunch in New York City.
Make no mistake, La Raza will prevail. We will survive like the Palestinians.
By your own rationalization (Mexico stole it from the Spaniards, who stole it from the Indians) the United States has no better claim to California than Mexico does (we stole the US from the British, who stole it from the Indians, after all.) We enslaved, murdered and raped the indigenous population too. So, at best, we're in a neutral position. The traditional tool for the adjustment of national borders is a cannon, after all.
BTW please show any reference you have to official borders in 1840's - While Mexico obviously made claims to the land... what legitimate right did they have to the land? Simply because Spain enslaved the Indians of the area?
But as I also said..as has been the truth throughout the history of man... those with the biggest cannons end up with the land...Are we are going to get in the game of unwinding borders drawn by wars and rebellions...that just is not going to happen.
I suspect this is why the La Raza Movement de Aztlan ..is so rabidly antisemitic and so active in the Palestinian issue...to gain support for their claim that land taken through force are illegitimate... That argument will never work. I cant think of one Independent country that has not been fought over at some point.
As an employee of La Raza Galeria Posada, I am compelled to address a few of the accusations you've levied at us. (My apologies to the kind folks at the sacpress if this crosses a line, feel free to remove this comment at your discretion)
1. As someone using a picture of a man in uniform for your posting avatar, you should (though you may not) understand the role that the United States (and our armed forces in particular) have played in the subjugation of "third world" countries, especially those in Latin America. Driven by a desire to control resources and capital, and through abject force, coercion and/or collusion, these United States have supported and continue to support some of the most entrenched, stomach churning villains the world has ever known, tyrants whose impact on the people of the countries they lorded over has yet to be undone. Mexicans and Latin Americans in general have fought and died in nearly countless numbers to re-gain freedoms stripped from them by despots on our speed dial.
2. The red herring accusation of antisemitism should really be viewed as just that. In my time with this organization, we have worked with people and organizations of discrete, disparate and multiple faiths and we certainly do not look upon violence as an acceptable resolution to disputes or border alignments.
3. "La Raza" is a contraction of "La Raza Cosmica", or "the cosmic race", the title of a 1925 book by Jose Vasconcelos that attempted to refute the perversions of Darwinism that were in vouge at the time. The term then denoted what the author perceived as the beginning of the end of petty pseudo-racial and nationalistic delineations between people, and advocated a pan-ethnic consciousness that reflected the already mixed nature of people living in the iberic american colonies. While the phrase has been picked up by radical groups, it certainly does not have the exclusively nationalist connotation you're imbibing it with. A similar mistake would be accusing all followers of Islam of sharing the Black Nationalist beliefs of the Nation of Islam (although, judging by the specious quality of your reasoning, this might be something you'd do. Please, don't.)
4. Cherry-picking one piece of correspondence from one organization and attempting to slander the goals and reputation of another with it is really minor league stuff. This is not in the spirit of rational debate and apparently serves only to bolster through bluster what amounts to an untenable argument. A similar tactic, if I wanted to respond in kind, would be to drone on about how everyone in uniform is of the same mind as the prison guards ad Abu Ghraib; which, aside from being patently untrue, is actually a more rational argument, since the Abu Ghraib guards are professional kin-folk of every man and woman in uniform and a similar kinship does not exist between us and the organizations you've cited.
All that said, I, like Mindy invite you to come to our events. Here at 1022-1024 22nd street you will find people of all ages, races, creeds and political leanings who are interested in sharing and exposing themselves to new and different customs and cultures, and appreciating the differences and commonalities between them.
By the way, Mexico celebrates its 200th year of independence in 2010 (not it's 400th, as you mistakenly wrote), and by my yard stick, keeping anything going for 200 years - never mind an entire country! - is quite an achievement, wouldn't you say?
Fox news reports a gunshot was fired at the New Jersey home of CNN's/United Stations’ Lou Dobbs after a series of threatening phone calls earlier this month, he told listeners on his USRN nationally syndicated radio show.
Dobbs, a fervent proponent of U.S. border enforcement, told listeners of "The Lou Dobbs Show" on Monday that the incident is part of an ongoing assault against anyone who opposes amnesty or leniency toward illegal immigrants.
"They've created an atmosphere and they've been unrelenting in their propaganda," Dobbs said in reference to pro-immigration groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the National Council of La Raza and America's Voice. "Three weeks ago this morning, a shot was fired at my house where I live. My wife was standing out and that followed weeks and weeks of threatening phone calls."
Dobbs continued, "But this shot was fired with my wife not, I don't know, 15 feet away, and we had threatening phone calls that I decided not to report because I get threatening phone calls."
Reached early Thursday at her home, Dobbs' wife, Debi Lee Segura, told Foxnews.com that she was outside the house when the shot was fired in her direction.
New Jersey State Police Sgt. Steve Jones said troopers were called to the Dobbs' estate in rural Wantage, N.J., at about 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 5. The investigators who responded to the call were told that Dobbs and his wife were outside their home when they heard a gunshot, and a bullet struck their attic.
"It struck the siding and then fell to the ground," Jones said.
A search of the vicinity was unsuccessful; the bullet was taken for analysis.
"It's a shot fired that struck the house," Jones continued. "We're not sure what the intended target was. It's still under investigation."
No injuries were reported.
William Gheen, president of Americans for Legal Immigration (ALIPAC), said it's very likely Dobbs' outspokenness on illegal immigration led to the shooting.
"That shot, that attack on the Dobbs family is an attack on every American that values First Amendment rights," Gheen told Foxnews.com. "The chances are greatest that it was political, because pro-amnesty groups have tried to dehumanize Lou Dobbs and lie about him."
Dobbs, who claimed the "national liberal media" has in part created a hostile environment regarding immigration, said enduring such incidents has become a "way of life" for him.
"It's become a way of life — the anger, the hate, the vitriol — but it's taken a different tone where they've threatened my wife," he said Monday. "They've now fired a shot at my house while my wife was standing next to the car.
"It's become something else. And if anybody thinks we're not engaged in a battle for the soul of this country right now, you're sorely mistaken."
Have an opinion on this article? Post your comment below.
Rep. Norwood died in 2007 and per the Washington Post (via wikipedia), he was "one of 33 House members who voted against renewing the Voting Rights Act [in 2006]".
This post is the subject of a 100+ post thread on avowedly racist website stormfront.org and appears on the websites of the munitemen border millitia and other right-wing groups.
There are many immigrant groups joined in the overall "La Raza" movement. The most prominent and mainstream organization is the National Council de La Raza -- the Council of "The Race". To most of the mainstream media, most members of Congress, and even many of their own members, the National Council of La Raza is no more than a Hispanic Rotary Club. But the National Council of La Raza succeeded in raking in over $15.2 million in federal grants last year alone, of which $7.9 million was in U.S. Department of Education grants for Charter Schools, and undisclosed amounts were for get-out-the-vote efforts supporting La Raza political positions. The Council of La Raza succeeded in having itself added to congressional hearings by Republican House and Senate leaders. And an anonymous senator even gave the Council of La Raza an extra $4 million in earmarked taxpayer money, supposedly for "housing reform," while La Raza continues to lobby the Senate for virtual open borders and amnesty for illegal aliens. Radical 'Reconquista' Agenda: Behind the respectable front of the National Council of La Raza lies the real agenda of the La Raza movement, the agenda that led to those thousands of illegal immigrants in the streets of American cities, waving Mexican flags, brazenly defying our laws, and demanding concessions. Key among the secondary organizations is the radical racist group Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan, or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlan (MEChA), one of the most anti-American groups in the country, which has permeated U.S. campuses since the 1960s, and continues its push to carve a racist nation out of the American West. One of America's greatest strengths has always been taking in immigrants from cultures around the world, and assimilating them into our country as Americans. By being citizens of the U.S. we are Americans first, and only, in our national loyalties. This is totally opposed by MEChA for the hordes of illegal immigrants pouring across our borders, to whom they say: "Chicano is our identity; it defines who we are as people. It rejects the notion that we...should assimilate into the Anglo-American melting pot...Aztlan was the legendary homeland of the Aztecas ... It became synonymous with the vast territories of the Southwest, brutally stolen from a Mexican people marginalized and betrayed by the hostile custodians of the Manifest Destiny." (Statement on University of Oregon MEChA Website, Jan. 3, 2006) MEChA isn't at all shy about their goals, or their views of other races. Their founding principles are contained in these words in "El Plan Espiritual de Aztlan" (The Spiritual Plan for Aztlan): "In the spirit of a new people that is conscious not only of its proud historical heritage but also of the brutal gringo invasion of our territories, we, the Chicano inhabitants and civilizers of the northern land of Aztlan from whence came our forefathers, reclaiming the land of their birth and consecrating the determination of our people of the sun, declare that the call of our blood is our power, our responsibility, and our inevitable destiny. ... Aztlan belongs to those who plant the seeds, water the fields, and gather the crops and not to the foreign Europeans. ... We are a bronze people with a bronze culture. Before the world, before all of North America, before all our brothers in the bronze continent, we are a nation, we are a union of free pueblos, we are Aztlan. For La Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada." That closing two-sentence motto is chilling to everyone who values equal rights for all. It says: "For The Race everything. Outside The Race, nothing."
(from CBS News)
PHOENIX (CBS/AP) Anti-illegal immigration "extremists" murdered a Hispanic father and his 9-year-old daughter and gravely injured the man's wife in order to raise money for their cause, say Arizona police.
Jason Eugene Bush, 34, Shawna Forde, 41, and Albert Robert Gaxiola, 42, have been charged with two counts each of first-degree murder and other charges, said Sheriff Clarence Dupnik of Pima County, Arizona.
The trio is alleged to have disguised themselves as law enforcement officers, forced their way into a home in rural Arivaca on May 30, and shot and killed Raul Junior Flores, 29, and his daughter Brisenia Flores, 9. Raul Flores' wife obtained a gun and fired back, hitting Bush. The wife was also wounded, according to police. Her name is not being released at this time.
Michael Collett, the topic is La Raza, try to keep up.
I support the full prosecution of EVERYONE who breaks the law. (there are extreamist on all issues) Likely, thats where we disgree. Your post also suggest there is no differing opinion allowed.
I read this news artical, did some research, and offered additional information to the blog string. There is no shortage of news articals about La Raza to be found, and most of them are not good.
The topic is my place of employment, and baseless accusations about us and the work we do. The use of ad hominem insults - even in passing - diversionary tactics and plagiarism; that's where we disagree. Well, that and the ability to spell.
with this, i end my troll feeding.
good night, and good luck.